Wind power generator with multiple rotary wings

ABSTRACT

A wind power generating apparatus having a plurality of rotary wings can reduce the load and resistance on the rotary wings due to wind to obtain a highly effective rotation power as well as to flexibly absorb the impact applied to the rotary wings due to varying wind pressure. Each one of the rotary wings has a radius of rotation different from the others and rotates separately according to the direction of the wind, by which the rotation power resulting from load and resistance in the integrally elongated rotary wings in relation to the wind is prevented from being canceled, and the wind acceleration via the accelerator covers and the wind distribution to the rotary wings result for highly efficient rotation power. The impact on the rotary wings is elastically absorbed while supporting the rotary wings so that the rotary wings can gradually rotate according to the intensity of the wind without damage

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wind power generating apparatushaving a plurality of rotary wings. In particular, the present inventionis directed to a wind power generator with multiple rotary wings inwhich load and resistance on the wind generated in the rotary wing arereduced to obtain a high efficiency rotation power and flexibly absorbimpact applied to the rotary wing according to variation of windpressure.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, electric power generations can be classified intohydroelectric power generation using head drop of water, thermal powergeneration which obtains electric power by means of combustion of fuel,nuclear power generation using nuclear fission and wind power generationusing wind. A proper power generator is established considering seasonand geographic influence to obtain electric power.

Among these power generations, wind power generation produces electricpower utilizing natural wind and has advantages in that installationcost is inexpensive unlike other power generating plants, and furtherthe wind power generation can be performed individually in a unit ofhome or local community. An example of conventional wind powergenerating apparatus is shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 13, the conventional wind power generating apparatus100 includes wings 101 that rotate by the wind, a generator 103 forgenerating electric power from the rotational force of the wings 101 anda support frame 104 for supporting both the generator 103 and the rotarywings 101.

The rotary wings 101 are extended from the rotary shaft 102. To thisend, when the rotary wings 101 rotate by the wind blowing into them, therear side of the rotary wings 101 is subjected to a large resistance orload and thus the rotational force of the rotary wings 101 can becancelled. As a result, there exists a problem that the conventional useof wind power yields low efficiency.

That is, where the wind blowing to one the rotary wings 101 is dividedinto three directions a, b and c, and three points r₁, r₂ and r₃correspond to the directions of the wind, it is apparent that rotationpower is varied according to radii of rotation. In particular, thevariation increases as the rotary wing 101 is longer, and resistance inthe rear portion of the rotary wing increases as the rotary wing extendsto the point r₃. As a result, this structure cancels a large portion ofrotation power.

Further, the conventional apparatus does not have any means forconcentrating irregular wind to the rotary wings 101 and thus fails toefficiently use the wind. When a strong wind blows e.g. owing to stormor blast, the rotary wings 101 is overloaded resulting from excessiverotation thereby causing frequent malfunction to the wind powergenerating apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems andit is therefore an object of the present Invention to provide a windpower generator comprising a plurality of rotary wings, which have radiiof rotation different from one another and rotate separately accordingto the direction of the wind. The wind power generating apparatus of theinvention can prevent canceling of rotation power resulting from loadand resistance in the integrally elongated rotary wings in relation tothe wind as well as accelerate the wind via accelerator covers anddistribute the wind to rotary wings to obtain high efficient rotationpower. Further, the Invention elastically absorbs impact on the rotarywings and support the rotary wings so that the rotary wings cangradually rotate according to the intensity of the wind in order toprevent damage of the wind power generating apparatus resulting fromblast. Moreover, the wind power generating apparatus of the inventioncan enhance the efficiency of wind power generation as well as improvestability and operation reliability.

A wind power generating apparatus, comprises a plurality of rotary wings(such as 11 a, 12 a, 13 a and 14 a), a plurality of rotary shafts (suchas 11, 12, 13, 14), an accelerator cover, wing piece support means,safety means, a transmission unit (such as 50), a generator (such as 60)for receiving the force from the transmission unit and generatingelectric power, a transmission unit housing (such as 50 a) and a baseframe (such as 70) for supporting the transmission unit housing.

Each rotary wing comprises a plurality of wing spokes and a plurality ofwing pieces 16. Each wing spoke has a first spoke end and a second spokeend, and the length of each wing spoke is elongated therebetween. Eachwing piece is connected to each of the second spoke ends. The lengths ofall wing spokes in one rotary wing are substantially same. The lengthsof all wing spokes in one rotary wing is, however, different from thelengths of the wing spokes in another one of the plurality of rotarywings.

Each rotary shaft has a first shaft end and a second shaft end and thelength of the rotary shaft is elongated therebetween. All first spokeends of each of the plurality of rotary wings are coupled to arespective one of the plurality of rotary shafts. The plurality ofrotary shafts are elongated linearly by connecting the first end of onerotary shaft to the second end of another rotary shaft. The linearlyelongated rotary shafts form a common axis for the plurality of rotarywings, such that the plurality of rotary wings rotate with respect tothe common axis in response to an external force including wind appliedto the rotary wing having the wing pieces.

One accelerator cover is connected to one of the two ends of thelinearly elongated rotary shafts. The accelerator cover guides theexternal force in the form of wind to the wing pieces. The acceleratorcover may be cone-shaped.

Wing piece support means 30 is connected to each wing piece forelastically supporting pivoting of the wing piece according to windpressure variation;

Safety means is connected to each wing piece support means 30 foradjusting the angle of each wing piece according to the wind force beingapplied to the wing piece to prevent the wind from exerting excessiveinfluence on the wing piece;

A transmission unit is connected to the linearly elongated rotary shaftsvia a gear train. The linearly elongate rotary shafts is capable ofrotating together with the connected plurality of rotary wings inpresence of external power including wind. The transmission unittransmits the force generated by the linearly elongated rotary shaftsrotating.

A generator 60 is connected to the transmission unit via a generatorshaft for receiving the force from the transmission unit and generateselectric power;

A transmission unit housing 50 a contains the transmission unit and thegenerator shaft 61.

A base frame 70 supports the transmission unit housing at apredetermined position.

Herein, each the first and second accelerator covers 20 and 21preferably comprises tapered circular tubes 23 which are arranged in apyramidal configuration to guide the wind respectively to the rotarywings 11 a to 14 a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wind power generating apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wind power generatingapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially expanded plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transmission unit of the wind power generating apparatus ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of safety means of the wind powergenerating apparatus of the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional views taken along a line A—A in FIG. 5illustrating the operation of a rotor;

FIG. 7 is a partial expanded perspective view of a rotary wing of thewind power generating apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line B—B in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating the operation of wingsupporting means of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a model of a firstaccelerator cover of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional wind power generatingapparatus.

<Description of symbols in main portions of the drawings> 11: Firstrotary shaft 11a: First rotary wing 12: Second rotary shaft 12a: Secondrotary wing 13: Third rotary shaft 13a: Third rotary wing 14: Fourthrotary shaft 14a: Fourth rotary wing 15: Wing spoke 15a: Extension piece16: Wing piece 20: First accelerator cover 21: Second accelerator cover22: Support member 23: Circular tube 30: Wing piece support means 31:Support piece 32: Fixing tube 34: Hinge 35: Movable rod 36: Movablepiece 37: First spring 38: Second spring 40: Fixing member 41: Steelwire movable member 42: Steel wire 43: Connector steel wire 44: Rotor45: Rotor housing 47: Elastic member 48: Hinge shaft 50: Transmissionunit 50a: Transmission unit housing 51: First drive gear 52: Seconddriver gear 53: Third drive gear 54: Fourth drive gear 55: Firstrotatable driven gear 56: Second rotatable driven gear 57: Thirdrotatable driven gear 58: Fourth rotatable driven gear 59: Driven shaft60: Generator 61: Shaft 62: Bevel gear 70: Base frame

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following detailed description will present a preferred embodimentof the invention in reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wind power generating apparatus of theinvention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wind powergenerating apparatus of the invention, FIG. 3 is a partially expandedplan view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a transmission unit of the wind powergenerating apparatus of the invention, FIG. 5 illustrates the structureof safety means of the wind power generating apparatus of the invention,FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional views taken along a line A—A in FIG. 5illustrating the operation of a rotor, FIG. 7 is a partial expandedperspective view of a rotary wing of the wind power generating apparatusof the invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line B—B inFIG. 7, FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views illustrating the operationof wing supporting means of the invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective viewillustrating a model of a first accelerator cover of the invention.

As shown in the drawings, a wind power generator of the invention isprovided with four rotary wings 11 a, 12 a, 13 a and 14 a have differentrotational radii, and each of the rotary wings 11 a to 14 a includes aplurality of wing pieces 16 and a plurality of wing spokes 15 connectedrespectively with the wing pieces 16. First and fourth rotary shafts 11and 14 each are coupled with one of the rotary wings 11 a to 14 a andmaintain a predetermined distance from each other in a correspondingmanner. Second and third rotary shafts 12 and 13 each rotatably receiveone of the first and fourth rotary shafts 11 and 14, and are coupledwith one of the rotary wings 11 a to 14 a. First and second acceleratorcovers 20 and 21 each are disposed around one of the first and fourthrotary shafts 11 and 14 for accelerating and guiding the wind tocorresponding ones of the wing pieces 16. Wing piece support means 30are disposed respectively in the rotary wings 11 a and 14 a forelastically supporting corresponding ones of the wing pieces 16according to variation of wind pressure. Safety means are connected witha portion of each of the support means 30 for adjusting the angle ofeach of the wing pieces 16 at occurrence of blast to prevent the windfrom having excessive influence on the each wing piece 16. Atransmission unit 50 is connected with the first to fourth rotary shafts11 to 14 via a gear train for changing rotation rates thereof. Agenerator 60 serves to receive rotation power from the transmission unit50 via a shaft 61 which is meshed with one portion of the transmissionunit 50 to generate electric power. A transmission unit housing 50 acontains the transmission unit 50, and the shaft 61 of the generator 60is extended rotatably through the transmission unit housing 50 a. A baseframe 70 serves to support a lower portion of the transmission unithousing 50 a and to mount the generator 60 at a predetermined position.

The first to fourth rotary shafts 11 to 14 are supported by bearings Bwhile the first rotary shaft 11 is received rotatably into the secondrotary shaft 12 and the fourth rotary shaft 14 is received rotatablyinto the third rotary shaft 13.

Each of the first and second accelerator covers 20 and 21 has taperedcircular tubes 23 which are arranged in a conical configuration toaccelerate and guide the wind to the respective wing pieces 16 in thefirst and second rotary wings 11 a and 12 a and the third and fourthrotary wings 13 a and 14 a. The circular tubes 23 are fixed to conicalsupport members 22.

In other words, the first accelerator cover 20 distributes theaccelerated wind to the rotary wings 11 a and 12 a with different radiiof rotation and the second accelerator cover 21 also distributes theaccelerated wind to the rotary wings 13 a and 14 a in order to obtaineffective rotation power.

The wing piece support means 30 includes a fixing tube 32 shaped in atube such that each of the wing spokes 15 can be rotatably inserted intothe same, a movable rod 35 coupled with an extension piece 15 a extendedfrom a portion of the each spoke 15 via a hinge 34, first and secondsprings 37 and 38 fitted around the movable rod 35 for absorbing impactapplied to the each wing spoke 15, and a movable piece 36 fitted aroundthe movable rod 35 between the first and second springs 37 and 38 andconnected with a portion of the safety means via steel wires 42.

In addition, one end of the movable rod 35 is fixed to a support plate31, which is fixed to a portion of another fixing tube 32.

The wing piece support means 30 are provided to elastically supportpivoting of the wing pieces 16 according to variation of wind pressureand to effectively utilize the wind.

The first and second springs 37 and 38 have diameters different fromeach other. The first spring 37 supports pivoting of the each wing piece16 mounted on the wing spoke 15 at normal times with lower windvelocity. As wind velocity increases e.g. owing to storm, the safetymeans pull the steel wires 42 connected to the movable plate 36 so thatthe second spring 38 is compressed and the first spring 37 is drawn soas to support pivoting of the each wing piece 16 with a sufficientamount of elastic force.

The safety means for pulling the steel wires 42 include a plurality ofhollow fixing members 40 for receiving the wires 42 connected to themovable pieces 36 and for receiving the first to fourth rotary shafts 11to 14 and the shaft 61, a plurality of movable members 41 being movableup/down within the fixing members 40 and for fixing terminal ends of thesteel wires 42 inserted into the fixing members 40, a plurality ofrotors 44 connected via the wires 42 with a bottom of the movable member41, which is disposed around the shaft 61, and connected via elasticmembers 47 with each other to radially move resulting from centrifugalforce during high-speed rotation, a rotor housing 45 disposed around theshaft 61 for containing the plurality of rotors 44 and connected withthe rotors 44 via hinge shafts 48, and connector steel wires 43 forallowing cooperative motion of the plurality of movable members 41according to movement of the rotors 44.

When the rotor housing 45 around the shaft 61 rotates at high speedresulting from blast, the rotors 44 move radially to the outside undercentrifugal force so that the steel wires 42, the connector steel wires43 and the movable members 41 pull the movable pieces 36 of the supportmeans 30.

The rotors 44 are preferably made of heavy metal so that the rotors 44can move radially to the outside only during high-speed rotation of therotor housing 45.

The transmission unit 50 includes a plurality of drive gears 51, 52, 53and 54 having diameters different from one another and disposedrespectively on the first to fourth rotary shafts 11 to 14 whichseparately rotate, a plurality of rotatable driven gears 55, 56, 57 and58 meshed respectively with the plurality of drive gears 51 to 54, adriven shaft 59 connecting the plurality of driven gears 55 to 58, andbevel gears 62 for transmitting the rotation power of the driven shaft59 to the shaft 61.

The transmission unit 50 transmits the rotation power of the drive gears51 to 54 which rotate in their own respective rates to the shaft 61 sothat the generator 60 can generate electric power.

Explaining the operation and effect of the invention having the aboveconstruction, the wind is accelerated while passing through the firstaccelerator cover 20 and the accelerated wind is distributed by thefirst accelerator cover 20.

That is, the wind blowing from a free end is accelerated while passingthrough the circular tubes 23, which are distributed in a conicalconfiguration and reduced in cross sections, and divided into twodirections before the wind is introduced to the wing pieces 16 of thefirst and second rotary wings 11 a and 12 a.

Herein, the first accelerator cover 20 and the first and second rotarywings 11 a and 12 a are arranged in a triangular configuration in theorder of the first accelerator cover 20 to the second rotary wing set 12a so that the wind is concentrated to the wing pieces 16 of the firstand second rotary wings 11 a and 12 a in order to obtain maximumrotation power.

After being slowed down while passing through the first and secondrotary wings 11 a and 12 a, the wind is introduced into the secondaccelerator cover 21, where the wind Is accelerated again according tothe operation of the second accelerator cover 21 like that of the firstaccelerator cover 20.

The wind accelerated while passing through the second accelerator cover21 is concentrated to the wing pieces 16 in the third and fourth rotarywings 13 a and 14 a to turn the same.

The first rotary shaft 11 is extended through the second rotary shaft 12and the fourth rotary shaft 14 is extended through the third rotaryshaft 13 so that the first to fourth rotary shafts 11 to 14 are rotatedrespectively by the first to fourth rotary wings 11 a to 14 a disposedon the respectively rotary shaft 11 to 14 to the radii of rotationdifferent from one another.

Rotation of the first to fourth rotary shafts 11 to 14 turns, atpredetermined deceleration ratios, the first to fourth drive gears 51 to54 disposed respectively on the rotary shafts 11 to 14 and the first tofourth driven gears 55 to 58 meshed respectively with the first tofourth drive gears 51 to 54.

The gears are connected as above to output the rotation power of thefirst to fourth rotary shafts 11 to 14, which rotate separately, atpredetermined deceleration ratios, and the generator 60 is driven 60 viathe bevel gear 62 connecting between the driven shaft 59 and the shaft61.

Since those skilled in the art can readily carry out or generallyperform a number of bearings B disposed around the first to the fourthrotary shafts 11 to 14 to smoothen rotation and transmit electric powergenerated by the generator 60 can be transmitted to a nearbytransmission station and/or charge electric power into separate chargingmeans, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The rotation speed of the first to fourth rotary wings 11 a to 14 aincreases in a strong wind of high velocity such as storm, in which thewind may particularly Impact the wing pieces 16 which are under directinfluence of the wind.

The support means 30 elastically absorb Impact on the wing pieces 16according to the intensity of impact. In particular, the support means30 elastically support the wing pieces 16 so that the wing pieces 16 cangradually rotate in a direction parallel to the direction of the wind toutilize the maximum quantity of wind power. When the wind pressuresuddenly increases e.g. due to blast, the safety means flexibly adjustthe angle of the wing pieces 16.

The operation of the support means 30 will be described in detailreferring to FIGS. 7 to 9B. As wind velocity increases, the wing spoke15 coupled with the wing piece 16 moves laterally.

Then, the movable rod 35 hinged on the extension piece 15 a of the wingspoke 15 is cooperatively moved laterally, in which the first spring 37fitted around the movable rod 35 is compressed and drawn via a hingepoint 34 to elastically absorb movement of the wing piece 16 and thewing spoke 15.

In this case, the first spring 37 only performs elastic motion toprimarily absorb impact applied to the wing piece 16 since the secondspring 38 has a larger coil diameter and a smaller value of saggingowing to weight than those of the first spring 37 and the first spring37 is supported by the second spring 38 and the movable piece 36.

The safety means operate when a strong wind such as storm concentratesto the wing pieces 16. Describing this in reference to FIGS. 5 to 9B, aswind velocity rapidly increases, the first to fourth rotary wings 11 ato 14 a rotate at high speed so that rotation power is transmitted tothe transmission unit 50 and the shaft 61 to turn the rotor housing 45at high speed.

As the rotor housing 45 rotates at high speed, the rotors 44 thereinmove radially to the outside in relation to the hinge shafts 48 whilepulling the steel wires 42 connected with the rotors 44.

As the rotors 44 pull the steel wires 42, the movable members 41 on theshafts 61 and the plurality of the rotary shafts 11 to 14 are moveddownward to pull the movable pieces 36 disposed on the movable members41 and the movable members 41 so that the second springs 38 arecompressed while the first springs 37 return to the loose originalposition as shown in FIG. 9B.

As the first springs 37 return to the original position, the safetymeans more effectively support the wing spokes 15 and the wing pieces16. When wind velocity rapidly increases, the safety means elasticallysupport the wing pieces 16 so that the wing pieces 16 rotate in adirection parallel to the direction of the wind so as to prevent damageof the wind power generating apparatus e.g. under storm.

When the wind returns to normal velocity after storm is over, the safetymeans counter operate from the above described process so that the firstand second springs 37 and 38 return to the original position as shown inFIG. 8 and the first springs 37 repeats elastic movement.

As set forth above, the wind power generating apparatus of the inventionaccelerates the wind via the first and second accelerator covers 20 and21 and guides the accelerated wind to wing pieces 16 of the first tofourth rotary wings 11 a to 14 a, which rotate separately, to reduceload and resistance in relation to the wind occurring when the winddirection is non-uniform thereby realizing effective rotation power.Also the support means 30 and the safety means elastically support thefirst to fourth rotary wings 11 a to 14 a according to variation of windpressure as well as support the wing pieces 16 so that the wing pieces16 gradually rotate in a direction parallel to the direction of thewind. As a result, the Invention can enhance the efficiency of windpower generation as well as prevent damage of the wind power generatingapparatus.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theparticular illustrative embodiments, those skilled in the art can changeor modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe present invention.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not restricted to theabove-described embodiments but shall be defined by the appended claimsand equivalents thereof.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As set forth above, the present invention accelerates the velocity ofthe wind via the accelerator covers as well as distributes theaccelerated wind to the wing pieces in order to effectively turn therotary wings having the respective radii of rotation different from oneanother.

The rotary wings rotate separately according to the direction of thewind to reduce load and resistance in relation to the wind, therebymaximizing rotation power and enhancing the efficiency of powergeneration.

Further, the support means and the safety means elastically support therotary wings so that the rotary wings may not be damage by a strong windsuch as storm. In particular, the support and safety means support thewing pieces under direct influence of the wind so that the wing piecescan gradually rotate according to the intensity of the wind withoutsudden rotation In a direction parallel to the direction of the wind. Asa result, the present invention can advantageously maximize the use ofwind power.

1. A wind power generating apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotarywings, each rotary wing comprising: a plurality of wing spokes, eachwing spoke having a first spoke end and a second spoke end, the lengthof each wing spoke being elongated therebetween; and a plurality of wingpieces, each wing piece being connected to one of the second spoke ends,wherein the lengths of all wing spokes in one rotary wing aresubstantially the same, and wherein the lengths of all wing spokes inone rotary wing is different from the lengths of the wing spokes inanother one of the plurality of rotary wings; a plurality of rotaryshafts, each rotary shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaftend and the length of the rotary shaft being elongated therebetween,wherein all first spoke ends of each of the plurality of rotary wingsare coupled to a respective one of the plurality of rotary shafts,wherein the plurality of rotary shafts are elongated linearly byconnecting the first end of one rotary shaft to the second end ofanother rotary shaft, and wherein the linearly elongated rotary shaftsform a common axis for the plurality of rotary wings, such that theplurality of rotary wings rotate with respect to the common axis inresponse to an external force including wind applied to the rotary wingshaving the wing pieces; an accelerator cover connected to one of the twoends of the linearly elongated rotary shafts, wherein the acceleratorcover guides the external force in the form of wind to the wing pieces;wing piece support means connected to each wing piece for elasticallysupporting pivoting of the wing piece according to wind pressurevariation; safety means connected to each wing piece support means foradjusting the angle of each wing piece according to the wind force beingapplied to the wing piece to prevent the wind from exerting excessiveinfluence on the wing piece; a transmission unit connected to thelinearly elongated rotary shafts; a generator connected to thetransmission unit via a generator shaft for receiving the force from thetransmission unit and generating electric power; a transmission unithousing for containing the transmission unit and the generator shaft;and a base frame for supporting the transmission unit housing at apredetermined position.
 2. The wind power generating apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein the accelerator cover is cone-shaped.